Washington
CNN
—
The House swiftly passed a resolution Wednesday night blocking Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s effort to oust Speaker Mike Johnson from his leadership post.
Johnson’s overwhelming support, with support from Democrats, ends, at least for now, the most serious challenge to the speakership the Louisiana Republican Party has faced.
The failed ouster attempt gives Mr Johnson an opportunity to argue it is time to move on to other issues as he overcomes a razor-thin majority, but support from Democrats has pushed him to the right. may be exposed to further criticism.
Mr Johnson gave a brief interview to reporters after the vote, calling Mr Green’s opposition “misguided” and thanking his colleagues for the “show of confidence” in his leadership.
“I would like to thank my colleagues for their expression of confidence in defeating this misguided effort,” he said. “I’m clear here every day that I’m going to do my job and I’m going to do what I believe is right and that’s what I was elected to do. And Let the chips fall where they may.”
Ms. Greene had been threatening to vote against the speaker for weeks, reigniting sharp divisions within the House Republican conference as many members opposed ousting Mr. Johnson.
Mr Johnson was elected speaker last year after conservative hardliners voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, but the historic and unprecedented vote meant that the Republican Party, led by a new leader, It sparked a turbulent period of internal strife as the state struggled to unite and ultimately unite around the Louisiana Republican Party.
The House voted Wednesday by a vote of 359-43 to put Greene’s request to remove Johnson on the table or kill it. Eleven Republicans voted against the table.
After Johnson pushed through a massive foreign aid package over the objections of hardliners, House Democratic leaders announced that Democrats would vote yes to help keep him in office.
Greene, Johnson and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky met over several days earlier this week, with Greene outlining her concerns about Johnson’s leadership and priorities. The House was on the verge of adjourning this week when Greene made a motion to remove the Speaker. That gave Republican leaders two legislative days to vote on her bill.
House Republicans were completely caught off guard by Greene’s decision to move, multiple Republican sources told CNN. Republican leaders did not see this coming, and after two fruitful meetings between Johnson and Greene, they thought there was at least some time before next steps were taken, the people added. .
Georgia Republican Rep. Austin Scott told CNN he was “shocked.”
CNN’s Haley Talbot contributed to this report.
This story is broken and has been updated.
